This three-disc Chronicles Christmas set may be too much of a good thing. Compiling three separate releases, the folks at Universal have compiled 42 tracks of the most diverse pop Christmas tunes ever from their vaults, ranging from
Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run" to
Brenda Lee's "Marshmallow World," from
Louis Jordan's "Jingle Bells" to
Brook Benton's "This Time of Year," and everything in between. It's hard to imagine who would want to own all three of these platters, but there's got to be someone. After all, it is a treasury of unusual as well as definitive performances.
Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and "Silver Bells" are here along with
Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,"
Mel Tormé's "Christmas Song," and
Ella Fitzgerald's "Sleigh Ride." There's something here for everyone, and then some. ~ Thom Jurek